Disability Ministry

We offer a safe place for Adults with Disabilities (ages 16 +) to grow in their faith, connect with others, and study the Bible. If you have any questions about our programs, please contact Pastor Karen Roberts kroberts@firstpresaurora.org, Pastor of Disability Ministries.

Friends of Jenny Sunday School Class

A Sunday School class with Bible teaching and activities geared toward adults and teens aged 16 and up with various disabilities/special needs (co-instructed by Kitty Anderson, Carol Cue, and Kathy Slimmer).

Friendship Bible Club

Friendship Bible Club meets monthly for a time of fun and fellowship, geared toward adults and teens aged 16 and up with various disabilities/special needs. We enjoy eating together, doing crafts, playing games, serving together, sharing music/singing, and Bible teaching, together with regular volunteers.

Autism Awareness

Autism is a lifelong disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. Autism is multidimensional and specific with a wide range of functionality and variables. It is often said, “If you know one child with autism, you know one child with autism. Each child, teen and adult are unique. In recent years there has been an increase in the incidences of autism. This increase calls for a biblical response.

How can we at FPC welcome, and support families impacted by the experience of autism? How can we nurture the spiritual growth of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder? A good place to begin is by learning more about autism. Here is a brief excerpt from www.autism.org.uk.

About autism

Autism is often called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). When people have autism, we say they are autistic. You cannot always tell that someone is autistic just by looking at them. Autism is a disability. It is not an illness or disease. It does not go away. People are autistic for all of their lives.

Autistic people may also have other things like:

· a learning disability

· a mental health condition. This is when people may feel upset, worried or scared a lot.

Autistic people can still do lots of things and learn new skills. They just need the right support.

What is it like to be autistic?

Everyone who is autistic is different. Some people need more support. Some people need less support.

What support may autistic people need?

Autistic people may find it hard to:

meet people and make friends

say what they need

say how they feel

understand how other people think or feel

understand jokes or ideas that are not clear or that may mean more than one thing

Some autistic people may find other things hard like:

some smells, sounds or colors

bright lights

people touching them

Other autistic people may like these things.

Autistic people may have something they are very interested in. Or something they are very good at. This may be art, music or something else.

Autistic people may like to do the same things every day.

This helps them feel safe.

It can be hard for people to change things.

Sometimes things can feel too much for autistic people.

They may feel worried or scared.

They may feel that people do not understand them.

They may want to spend time on their own.

How do autistic people communicate?

Some autistic people may not speak. Or they may speak a bit. Some autistic people use other ways to say things. Like sign language or pictures. Some autistic people find it hard to know what other people say. They may copy what other people say to make sure it is right. Or they may talk about their favorite subject instead.